Doctors

Dr Rough grew up in Fife and qualified from Glasgow University in 1993. He then worked and travelled overseas in Canada and New Zealand before returning and joining the practice in 2000.

Dr Mike Steven

BSC, MBCHB, DRCOG, FRCGP Date Qualified: 1995 Edinburgh (Partner)

Mike grew up in Morayshire and qualifed from Edinburgh in 1995 during which time he undertook an intercalated Honours degree in Immunology. He joined the practice in 2000 after living an working in and around the Edinburgh region.

Dr Nicola Showell

BSc MBCHB, MRCGP, DFSRH Date Qualified: 1997 Aberdeen (Partner)

Dr Showell gew up in the Glasgow region before moving up to Aberdeen university where she qualified from in 1997. She trained as a GP in Kemnay before joining the practice in 2003.

Dr James Henderson

MBCHB, DRCOG, MRCGP Date Qualified: 1996 Aberdeen (Partner)

James grew up in Aberdeen and qualified from the University in 1996. He initially took up a career in surgery (ENT) before switching to general practice a few years later. He joined the partnership in October 2007 having previously worked in central Aberdeen.

Doug qualified from Dundee with MbChB during which time he also undertook an intercalated BMSc (Hons) degree in Forensic Medicine. After hospital jobs in Perth and Dundee he came to Aberdeen to undertake his GP training in 1997 moving to Inverbervie to take up a partnership in January 2001, where he remained until his move to Banchory in April 2009.

Valerie grew up in the Borders and went on to qualify from Edinburgh in 1995 during which time she undertook an intercalated Honours degree in Pathology.She joined the practice in 2008 having previously worked as a GP Partner in Aberdeen for a number of years.

Dr Rebecca Stevenson

MBCHB,DRCOG,MRCGP,DFFP Date Qualified: 1996 Aberdeen (Partner)

Rebecca grew up in Ellon and attended Aberdeen University, graduating in 1996 before going on to GP hospital training jobs in Aberdeen City. She undertook her GP Trainee year at Rubislaw Place following which she travelled to work in Australia. On returning to Aberdeen Rebecca worked at Calsayseat Medical Practice for a year prior to taking up a partnership at Rubislaw Place Surgery, where she remained until coming to join the Banchory Practice in June 2009.

Gill grew up in the Aberdeen area and went to Edinburgh to study medicine, graduating in 2002. She did her GP training year in the Scottish Borders and then went on to do a rural fellowship year working in some interesting areas such as Orkney and Lewis.

Gill joined the practice in 2011 and became a partner in 2016.

Dr Margaret Brown

MB, ChB, DRCOG

Margaret qualified in 1997 at Dundee

Dr Bharati Chirangi (f)

MBBS Date Qualified: 2004 India, MRCGP

Bharati grew up and qualified in India before moving to the UK several years ago. She joined Banchory surgery as our trainee in 2011 and qualified as a GP after completing her training in 2013. She now works for us as an assistant GP on a part-time basis.

Dr Claire Walker (f)

MRCGP, BA, MMS, MRCHB

Claire grew up in Pennsylvania in the United States. She did a undergraduate BA degree in Biology from Bryn Mawr College. Afterwards she completed her Masters in Medical Sciences at D'rexel University and worked in their pathology lab. In 2005 Claire moved to Aberdeen in order to attend the University of Aberdeen where she completed her medical degree in 2010. She completed GP training in Bucksburn and Dyce areas of Aberdeen before joining Banchory practice in September 2015.

Dr Sally Craig

MBCHB, MRCGP Date Qualified: 2011 Aberdeen (Retainer)

Sally grew up in the Stirling region and moved to Aberdeen to undertake her medical student training, qualifying from Aberdeen University in 2011. She then worked in and around the Glasgow region doing her hospital jobs before moving back up to the North East undertake her GP training at Banchory, which she completed in 2016. Sally is now currently working as a Retainer with us.

Dr Eilidh Ballantyne (f)

MBChB, DRCOG, DRSFH, MRCGP Qualified in 2014 in Aberdeen

Eilidh grew up in the Glasgow area before moving to Aberdeen to undertake her medical degree qualifying in 2014. She completed her GP Training in an Aberdeen city practice and undertook additional training in Women's Health and Sexual Health. She joined Banchory in October 2019 as a salaried GP.

Dr Amy Wright (f)

MBChB, MRCGP, DRCOG Qualified in 2012 in Aberdeen

Amy grew up in Morayshire and went to university at Aberdeen. She then worked in Inverness and more rurally on the west coast during her hospital posts before coming back to Aberdeen to do her GP training.

What Do The Letters After A Doctor's Name Mean?

MB ChB/MBBS – Batchelor of Medicine and Surgery. This is the standard qualification each medical student is awarded after 5 years of University Training. Although the student are officially recognised as ‘doctors’ at this stage, they require a further one years experience as a junior house officer in a hospital post before they become fully qualified doctors in the eyes of the General Medical Council.

MRCGP -Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. A postgraduate medical qualification in the United Kingdom.

DFSRH/DFFP – Diploma of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health. This is a recognition of having acquired additional skills in the field of contraception and sexual health.

DRCOG – Diploma from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. This is a voluntary exam undertaken by GP’s in training to recognise specialist knowledge in the field of s pregnancy and women’s health

DCH – Diploma in Child Health. This is a similar exam to the DRCOG and recognises additional skills in the field of child health and Paediatrics.

DPD – Diploma in Practical Dermatology this is a diploma for GP's with a speical interest in Dermatological conditions.

Nurses

We currently have 7 nurses - Sharon Grimble, Hazel Keir, Gemma Murray, Emma Humble, Ann-Marie Steel, Maria Williams and Norma Dickson. The nurses undertake all the usual treatment room care as well as running regular clinics such as asthma, diabetes, cardiac and heart failure, hypertension, well woman etc. Working together with the duty doctor, Sharon and Emma also run their own daily surgeries for minor ailments.

Sharon Grimble RGN

Sharon qualified as an RGN in 1989 and initially gained experience in the Medical and Surgical wards, High Dependency nursing and latterly in Accident and Emergency. After moving to Banchory she joined the practice in 2000 during which time she has gained diplomas in Cervical Screening, Breast Awareness, Minor Illness and Diabetes. She has also studied Travel Medicine, Immunisations and has recently started running the practice Heart Failure clinic. Sharon was made Nurse Team Lead in February 2018.

Hazel Keir RGN

Hazel trained in Aberdeen and qualified in 1995. Since then she has worked in ARI in Gynaecology and General Medicine before specialising in Haematology and working in the Anchor Unit. She joined the practice in 2006 as a treatment room nurse and has since gained additional qualifications in Well Woman health, Travel Medicine and most recently a Diploma in Diabetes.

Ann-Marie Steel RGN

Ann-Marie grew up locally and qualified from nursing from Robert Gordon University in 2007. She worked initially in both the medical and surgical wards in ARI before moving to the High Dependency Unit. She also gained experience as an oncology nurse in the ANCHOR unit. Ann-Marie joined the practice in 2011 and currently works as out treatment room nurse.

Emma Humble RGN

Emma grew up locally in Banchory. She qualified as a nurse from The Robert Gordon University in 2009. She completed her Staff Nurse Development Programme at Morvern Ward, Glen O Dee hospital, continuing to work there on the Nurse bank. Emma joined the practice July 2012 and works as one of our Treatment Room Nurses.

Maria Williams RGN

Maria qualified as a Registered General Nurse in 1984 and a Registered Midwife in 1987. She originally moved to Banchory in 1989, where she worked at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and Kincardine O'Neil War Memorial Hospital, Torphins, as a midwife before moving overseas with her family. She joined the practice in 2011, completed her 'Return to Practice in General Nursing' through Stirling University, and now works as a Treatment Room Nurse.

Norma Dickson RGN (f)

Norma qualified as a RGN in 1985, a midwife in 1987, and a district nurse in 1990. Having studied and worked in several disciplines, Norma moved to Banchory in 1993, and worked at Torphins hospital, and Aboyne hospital before moving overseas with her family. She originally joined the Banchory Practice in 2011 as a phlebotomist, and following completion of her return to practice course worked at Peterculter Medical Practice before re-joining the Banchory Practice at the beginning of 2018 as a Practice Nurse.

Receptionists provide an important link for patients with the practice and are your initial contact point for general enquiries. They can provide basic information on services and results and direct you to the right person depending on your health issue or query. Receptionists make most of the patient appointments with the GPs and nurses. They also perform other important tasks such as issuing repeat prescriptions and dealing with prescription enquiries, dealing with financial claims, dealing with patient records and carrying out searches and practice audits.

The receptionists will ask for some brief information on your current needs, particularly in urgent situations. Please help them by explaining your needs and they will endeavour to find the best solution to your problem. They are bound by the same strict rules of confidentiality as the doctors and nurses. Our receptionists, however, are not medically trained.

There are currently ten receptionists at the surgery who run a rota to take it in turns to cover the various areas including the front desk and ‘behind the scenes’ in the filing/results area.

Pharmacists

Miss Louise Black (f)

Our two high street pharmacies, Michies andDavidsonsprovide prescriptions as well as advice on over the counter medication and minor ailments. Torphins pharmacy is also available to patients living nearby Torphins village.

Louise Black is our practice pharmacist. She undertakes regular audits, assists with repeat medication review, guideline and formulary implementation and is an excellent source of knowledge.

Community Nurses

The Community Nurse Team includes nurses with a variety of skills and expertise who visit housebound patients. Following an assessment, and supporting the ethos of modernising primary care and joint partnerships, the planned care to be given will be agreed upon by both the nursing staff and the patient or their relatives.

The service is available from 8.30am to 5.00pm seven days a week. Out with these hours the Marie Curie Nurses are available by contacting NHS 24 on 111

You can contact the Community Nursing Team on 01330 827250/827265.

Penny Allan - District Nurse

Gillian Blackhall - Community Nurse

Carole Dobson - Community Nurse

Calena Weir - Community Nurse

Moira Mackie - Health Care Support Worker

Health Visitors

A health visitor is a registered nurse who has received training particularly related to babies, children and pregnant women. Their role is to provide families with children under five years old with support and advice around the general aspects of mental, physical and social wellbeing.

The Health Visitor team work from the adjacent clinic and offer the following services:

Ante-Natal Classes and advice; Well baby Clinics; Child Surveillance Clinics; Home Visits to Mother and Children under school age; Contract with Play Groups and Schools;. They also undertake the pre-school immunisations. We have joint weekly clinical meetings and meet informally outside these hours.